Billboard Music Awards 2014: Kesha, Jordin Sparks light up red carpet

Celebrities hit the red carpet, showing off fashions at Sunday's Billboard Music Awards from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Among the early arrivals were singers Kesha and Jordin Sparks.

But the biggest splash could come later by someone not even there:

Speculation is that the show may feature a hologram of pop icon Michael Jackson as part of a "history-making performance" dick clark productions is promising viewers and feverish Jackson fans.

It would be another way his record label, Epic, is promoting his second posthumous album, "Xscape," released last week. The album's first single, "Love Never Felt This Good," debuted earlier this month when Usher danced while the song played at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.

A federal judge ruled Friday that the Billboard Music Awards can use a hologram of the deceased pop icon, rejecting efforts from tech companies seeking to block the digital performance. Jackson died in 2009.

His hologram could be in chart-topping company: Katy Perry, Lorde and Robin Thicke will perform.

Lorde and Imagine Dragons are competing in 12 categories, followed by Justin Timberlake, who has 11 nominations. Timberlake and Las Vegas-based Imagine Dragons will battle Perry, Bruno Mars and Miley Cyrus, who will perform remotely from a tour stop in England, for top artist.

Timberlake is also up for top Billboard 200 album with his comeback effort, "The 20/20 Experience." It has stiff competition: Beyonce's self-titled fifth album, which came in surprise form and set new records, is also up for the honor, in addition to best-selling releases from Eminem, Drake and Luke Bryan.

The battle for top Hot 100 songs is strong, too. Nominees include Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball," Thicke's "Blurred Lines," Perry's "Roar," Lorde's "Royals" and Imagine Dragons' "Radioactive," the longest-running song in the Hot 100's history.

John Legend, who currently holds the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 chart with "All of Me," will perform during the live telecast. Shakira, Carrie Underwood, Pitbull, Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea and Jennifer Lopez, who will receive an icon award, will also take the stage.

Ludacris will host the Billboard Music Awards, which will air live on ABC at 8 p.m. Eastern.